Julius Forstmann
Forstmann Woolens, Passaic, New Jersey
Forstmann Woolens, Passaic, New Jersey
Forstmann Woolens Company, Passaic, New Jersey was founded in 1904 by German entrepreneurs who
came from a long line of prosperous and skilled woolworkers dating back to 1563. The Forstmann family was
descended from citizens of Flanders in today’s Belgium. The family was one of the original members of the
Weavers Guild, the oldest of guilds, which had been established during medieval times by artisans to form
merchant guilds to protect and maintain the high standards of their crafts. Julius Forstmann, of the Ruhr Valley
near today’s Essen, emigrated to America to recreate the quality woolens then known in Germany. Forstmann
joined Huffmann to form a new venture in Passaic. The woolens and worsteds coming from this mill were
legendary and the company prospered. Workers were brought from Germany and all across Western Europe
to work in the mills of Passaic. One such worker was Gerhard Wiegand who emigrated in 1912 and sent for
his fiancée in 1916. The family survived the war and the difficulties imposed by the US government on anyone
who was of German birth whether they were citizens or resident aliens. Read the Wiegand story elsewhere in
the site.
Once the US entered the war against Germany, many of the German-owned properties were seized and sold to
Americans. The New York Times headline on April 3, 1918, reported, “ Forstmann Denies Any German Taint,
Declares He Never Saw Compromising Letters, and Bought Wool at Metz’s Suggestion.” Julius Forstmann,
president of the $2,000,000 Forstmann-Huffmann Woolen Mills of Passaic… a loyal citizen of the United States
… the mill was recently seized. In 1914, Mr. Forstmann was approached by the Hon. Herman A. Metz, then a
member of Congress from New York City, and now wearing the uniform of an officer of his country… and Mr.
Metz told him that unless some arrangement could be made to get wool and cotton into Germany the dye
industry would suffer tremendously.” Such was the case for many German properties that openly did business
in the US and were in no way connected with the war in Europe. On December 18, 1918, the Times reported
further sales: The Garfield Worsted Mills, The Gera Mills, The Passaic Worsted Spinning Company, and The
New Jersey Worsted Spinning Company, were sold even though “the enemy holdings in these mills are small.”
1
The war was difficult for these businesses, which struggled to restore their former business after the war. They
eventually thrived in the Roaring Twenties. Gerhard Wiegand was promoted and worked side by side with
Julius Forstmann to develop colors for the famous Forstmann Woolens. The Forstmann business grew and
he became wealthy almost beyond measure. In 1923, Forstmann built a five-story mansion at 22 71st Street
between Fifth and Madison Avenue. The five-story Italian Renaissance-style limestone survives to this day.
In 1929, Forstmann had a custom yacht, the 333-foot Orion, constructed in the Kiel shipyards of Krupp. The
ship arrived in September and, after seven weeks, the Forstmann family cruised around the world for seven
months with a crew of over 50 while radioing orders back to his factory, business office in Manhattan, and his
customers. An account was published by son, Julius. 5
In 1938, Julius Forstmann became ill and died in 1939. His son, Curt, assumed the presidency and carried
the business forward.
As war approached, the US Navy acquired the Orion in 1940 and re-commissioned her as the USS Vixen
(PG53), a patrol gunboat. She served as flagship for four admirals, serving in World War II as the ship that kept
the Atlantic coast defense coordinated.
Following the Second World War, business as usual resumed for these mills. In 1957, Forstmann Woolens
became a part of J.P. Stevens & Co.
In 1999, Victor Woolen Products acquired Forstmann & Co. and two plants in Dublin, GA.. Forstmann, like other
woolen companies and divisions of larger companies went to Chapter 11 several times durings the 1990s. 6.
Sources:
1. http://www.fabrics.net/print/joan404.asp Joan Kiplinger 2004. Accessed December 29, 2007
2. New York Times, April 3, 1918; December 18, 1918.
3. www.navsource.org/archives/12/09053.htm Orion, then USS Vixen, Accessed January 7, 2008
4. http://www.essen.de/Deutsch/Rathaus/Aemter/Ordner_41/Stadtarchiv/Geschichte_Forstmann_Julius_Junior.
asp 1871-1939 Accessed 8 January 2008.
5. Forstmann, Julius George. 1930. World Cruise of the Motor Yacht Orion November 5th 1929 - June 11th
1930. New York: William Edwin Rudge.
6. Textile World, December 1999, p17.
came from a long line of prosperous and skilled woolworkers dating back to 1563. The Forstmann family was
descended from citizens of Flanders in today’s Belgium. The family was one of the original members of the
Weavers Guild, the oldest of guilds, which had been established during medieval times by artisans to form
merchant guilds to protect and maintain the high standards of their crafts. Julius Forstmann, of the Ruhr Valley
near today’s Essen, emigrated to America to recreate the quality woolens then known in Germany. Forstmann
joined Huffmann to form a new venture in Passaic. The woolens and worsteds coming from this mill were
legendary and the company prospered. Workers were brought from Germany and all across Western Europe
to work in the mills of Passaic. One such worker was Gerhard Wiegand who emigrated in 1912 and sent for
his fiancée in 1916. The family survived the war and the difficulties imposed by the US government on anyone
who was of German birth whether they were citizens or resident aliens. Read the Wiegand story elsewhere in
the site.
Once the US entered the war against Germany, many of the German-owned properties were seized and sold to
Americans. The New York Times headline on April 3, 1918, reported, “ Forstmann Denies Any German Taint,
Declares He Never Saw Compromising Letters, and Bought Wool at Metz’s Suggestion.” Julius Forstmann,
president of the $2,000,000 Forstmann-Huffmann Woolen Mills of Passaic… a loyal citizen of the United States
… the mill was recently seized. In 1914, Mr. Forstmann was approached by the Hon. Herman A. Metz, then a
member of Congress from New York City, and now wearing the uniform of an officer of his country… and Mr.
Metz told him that unless some arrangement could be made to get wool and cotton into Germany the dye
industry would suffer tremendously.” Such was the case for many German properties that openly did business
in the US and were in no way connected with the war in Europe. On December 18, 1918, the Times reported
further sales: The Garfield Worsted Mills, The Gera Mills, The Passaic Worsted Spinning Company, and The
New Jersey Worsted Spinning Company, were sold even though “the enemy holdings in these mills are small.”
1
The war was difficult for these businesses, which struggled to restore their former business after the war. They
eventually thrived in the Roaring Twenties. Gerhard Wiegand was promoted and worked side by side with
Julius Forstmann to develop colors for the famous Forstmann Woolens. The Forstmann business grew and
he became wealthy almost beyond measure. In 1923, Forstmann built a five-story mansion at 22 71st Street
between Fifth and Madison Avenue. The five-story Italian Renaissance-style limestone survives to this day.
In 1929, Forstmann had a custom yacht, the 333-foot Orion, constructed in the Kiel shipyards of Krupp. The
ship arrived in September and, after seven weeks, the Forstmann family cruised around the world for seven
months with a crew of over 50 while radioing orders back to his factory, business office in Manhattan, and his
customers. An account was published by son, Julius. 5
In 1938, Julius Forstmann became ill and died in 1939. His son, Curt, assumed the presidency and carried
the business forward.
As war approached, the US Navy acquired the Orion in 1940 and re-commissioned her as the USS Vixen
(PG53), a patrol gunboat. She served as flagship for four admirals, serving in World War II as the ship that kept
the Atlantic coast defense coordinated.
Following the Second World War, business as usual resumed for these mills. In 1957, Forstmann Woolens
became a part of J.P. Stevens & Co.
In 1999, Victor Woolen Products acquired Forstmann & Co. and two plants in Dublin, GA.. Forstmann, like other
woolen companies and divisions of larger companies went to Chapter 11 several times durings the 1990s. 6.
Sources:
1. http://www.fabrics.net/print/joan404.asp Joan Kiplinger 2004. Accessed December 29, 2007
2. New York Times, April 3, 1918; December 18, 1918.
3. www.navsource.org/archives/12/09053.htm Orion, then USS Vixen, Accessed January 7, 2008
4. http://www.essen.de/Deutsch/Rathaus/Aemter/Ordner_41/Stadtarchiv/Geschichte_Forstmann_Julius_Junior.
asp 1871-1939 Accessed 8 January 2008.
5. Forstmann, Julius George. 1930. World Cruise of the Motor Yacht Orion November 5th 1929 - June 11th
1930. New York: William Edwin Rudge.
6. Textile World, December 1999, p17.
Julius Forstmann
1871-1939
Image: www.Essen.de
1871-1939
Image: www.Essen.de
SS Orion1929, USS Vixen 1940
Image: US Navy Archives
Image: US Navy Archives
Forstmann Brand Name Labels
Image: Textile Brand Name Dictionary
Image: Textile Brand Name Dictionary